Governance Community

Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has issued cybersecurity guidelines that prohibit the use of AnyDesk and TeamViewer by government departments. The guidelines, applicable to all ministries, departments, and government institutions, aim to enhance information security practices. These guidelines can be accessed via the CERT-In website. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology, emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring a safe and secure cyberspace. The guidelines serve as a roadmap for government entities and industries to mitigate cyber risks, safeguard citizen data, and strengthen the overall cybersecurity ecosystem. They will also serve as a benchmark for auditing teams, including internal and external auditors, to assess an organization’s security measures against the specified cybersecurity requirements. The guidelines cover various security domains, including network security, identity and access management, application security, data security, third-party outsourcing, hardening procedures, security monitoring, incident management, and security auditing. Additionally, they incorporate guidelines developed by the National Informatics Centre to promote cyber hygiene and enhance cybersecurity among Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and employees of Central Government Ministries/Departments. These guidelines play a crucial role in India’s larger cybersecurity framework as the country strives to achieve its goal of a $1 trillion digital economy under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.  

Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over the 42nd edition of PRAGATI, an ICT-based platform for proactive governance and timely implementation, where he chaired a meeting involving the central and state governments. The meeting focused on the review of twelve key projects, seven of which were from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, two from the Ministry of Railways, and one each from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of Steel, and Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. These projects have a combined value of over Rs 1,21,300 crore and are spread across ten states, including Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and Haryana, as well as two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. During the meeting, the Prime Minister reviewed the progress of various projects, such as the construction of AIIMS facilities in Rajkot, Jammu, Awantipora, Bibinagar, Madurai, Rewari, and Darbhanga. He emphasized the importance of resolving any outstanding issues and adhering to the stipulated timelines for the completion of these projects, considering their significance for the general public. Additionally, Prime Minister Modi discussed the ‘PM SVANidhi Scheme’ and urged Chief Secretaries to identify and include all eligible street vendors, particularly in tier II and tier III cities. He also directed a mission-mode campaign to promote digital transactions among street vendors and ensure that the benefits of government schemes reach the family members of SVANidhi beneficiaries through the ‘SVANidhi se Samriddhi’ initiative. Furthermore, the Prime Minister commended Chief Secretaries for successfully organizing G20 meetings and encouraged them to maximize the benefits derived from these meetings, especially in terms of promoting tourism and exports in their respective states. The PRAGATI meetings have reviewed a total of 340 projects worth Rs 17.05 lakh crore thus far, as stated in a note from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

The Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) is set to mark ‘Udyami Bharat MSME Day’ on June 27th at Vigyan Bhawan with the launch of several initiatives aimed at promoting the growth and development of the MSME sector. One of the key initiatives to be unveiled is the Champions 2.0 Portal and mobile app, which will facilitate the geo-tagging of cluster projects and technology centers. The event will be attended by Narayan Rane, the Union Minister for MSME, as the Chief Guest, and Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, the Union Minister of State (MSME), as the Guest of Honour. The program will involve the announcement of results for the ‘MSME Idea Hackathon 2.0’ and the launch of ‘MSME Idea Hackathon 3.0’ specifically designed for women entrepreneurs. Additionally, certificates will be presented to MSMEs that have achieved gold and silver ZED certification, and a digital transfer of Rs. 400 crore as margin money subsidy will be made to 10,075 beneficiaries of the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP). Furthermore, the event will witness the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between various central government organizations. The aim of these initiatives and activities is to provide a boost to the MSME sector and empower women entrepreneurs, while promoting innovation and collaboration among MSMEs.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden recently took part in an India-US Hi-Tech Handshake event at the White House in Washington D.C. The event, moderated by US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, brought together prominent CEOs of technology companies and startups from both countries. The main focus of the event was on the themes of “AI for All” and “Manufacturing for Mankind.” It provided an opportunity for the leaders to assess the growing technology collaboration between India and the USA. The discussions centred around the role and potential of the India-US Technology Partnership in promoting an inclusive economy driven by AI, addressing the needs of their citizens as well as the global community. During the event, President Biden presented Prime Minister Modi with an “AI” t-shirt as a gift. The CEOs explored ways to leverage the existing connections between the two technology ecosystems, including India’s skilled workforce and advancements in Digital Public Infrastructure, to foster international collaborations. They emphasized the importance of regular engagement between industries to initiate strategic partnerships, collaborate on standards, and promote innovation. In his speech, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the enormous potential of India-US tech cooperation in driving socioeconomic growth. He also commended the youth of India for cultivating a culture of innovation. President Biden called on CEOs to expand the India-US tech partnership into new fields such as biotechnology and quantum technology. Both leaders emphasized the instrumental role of the India-US partnership in creating a better future for their respective populations and the world at large.  

Amit Agrawal has taken on the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). Starting his tenure on Monday, Agrawal, a 1993 batch IAS officer from the Chhattisgarh cadre, brings with him a wealth of experience. Having graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, he has held various significant positions at both the central and state levels, including Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Before assuming the position of UIDAI CEO, he served as Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Prior to that, he held the positions of Additional Secretary and Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Finance. Agrawal has also served as the Finance Secretary and Secretary in charge of departments such as Commercial Tax and Technical Education in the Chhattisgarh State Government.

Chandrayaan 3, India’s upcoming lunar mission, is scheduled to be launched in July, most likely in the second half of the month, according to Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science & Technology. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans to demonstrate crucial technology with this mission, specifically the ability to land the spacecraft on the moon’s south pole. Earlier this year, Dr Jitendra Singh confirmed that Chandrayaan-3 had successfully completed essential tests to ensure its capability to endure the challenging conditions during launch and the subsequent journey. As per ISRO’s website, Chandrayaan-3 will be launched by the LVM3 rocket from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota. The lander and rover will be carried by the propulsion module to a lunar orbit of 100 km. The spacecraft comprises an indigenous Lander module (LM), Propulsion module (PM), and a Rover, all aimed at developing and showcasing new technologies necessary for interplanetary missions.

The central government has given its approval for projects worth over Rs 7,500 crore aimed at modernizing fishing harbours and fish landing centres. Parshottam Rupala, the Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, inaugurated the foundation stone laying ceremony for the modernization and upgradation of the Cochin Fishing Harbour in Thoppumpady, Samudrika Hall, Willingdon Island, Cochin, which is under the authority of the Cochin Port Authority. In March 2022, the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, Government of India, sanctioned the proposal by the Cochin Port Trust for the modernization and upgradation of the Cochin Fishing Harbour in Thoppumpady. The total cost of the project is Rs 169.17 crore, with a central financial assistance of Rs 100 crore under the PMMSY (Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana) in collaboration with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways under the Sagarmala initiative. This project will benefit 700 fishing boats operating at the Cochin fishing harbour, directly supporting the livelihoods of around 10,000 fishermen and indirectly benefiting around 30,000 fishermen involved in the value chain. The modernization efforts are expected to significantly improve hygiene conditions and increase earnings from the export of fish and fish products.

The Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, announced that the aviation sector in India has undergone significant changes under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Previously limited to a select few, air travel has now become accessible to the common man. Scindia highlighted the growth in domestic passengers, which increased from 60 million in 2014 to 143 million in 2020 before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. International passengers also saw a significant increase, rising from 43 million to 64 million, marking nearly a 50% growth. Despite the impact of Covid-19, the number of aircraft has risen from around 400 in 2014 to 723 in 2023. Scindia emphasized the launch of Digi Yatra, a program designed for domestic flight passengers, which aims to set a new global benchmark for a seamless, hassle-free, and safe passenger experience at airports. The initiative was initially introduced at three airports – Delhi, Bengaluru, and Varanasi – on December 1, 2022, and later expanded to four more airports – Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, and Vijayawada – in March 2023. The government plans to implement Digi Yatra across various airports in the country. Furthermore, the minister highlighted the progress in airport infrastructure, with the government operationalizing an additional 74 airports, helicopters, and water aerodromes, bringing the total to 220. In addition to airport development, the government has also made strides in the establishment of 11 greenfield airports. The UDAN scheme, aimed at enhancing regional connectivity, has identified 180 RCS (Regional Connectivity Scheme) airports, including 25 water aerodromes and 40 helipads, for the operation of RCS flights. Currently, out of 1,152 awarded RCS routes, 475 routes have commenced operations, connecting 74 airports, nine heliports, and two water aerodromes. The RCS UDAN scheme has facilitated travel for approximately 121.67 lakh passengers, and an amount of around Rs 2,585.25 crore has been released to selected airline operators for the operation of RCS UDAN flights. Recently, Udan 5.1 was launched, focusing specifically on helicopter routes.

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das has introduced a financial inclusion dashboard called ‘Antardrishti’ to assess and monitor the progress of financial inclusion in India. This dashboard will provide valuable insights into the relevant parameters and help identify areas of financial exclusion at a detailed level across the country. Initially, the dashboard will be used internally by the RBI but is expected to promote greater financial inclusion through collaboration with multiple stakeholders. The RBI has been actively promoting financial inclusion through various policy initiatives. In 2021, they developed the Financial Inclusion (FI) Index to measure the extent of financial inclusion. This index combines information from different aspects of financial inclusion into a single value ranging from 0 to 100. A score of 0 represents complete financial exclusion, while 100 indicates full financial inclusion. The FI index considers three dimensions: ‘Access’, ‘Usage’, and ‘Quality’, and incorporates data from banking, investments, insurance, postal services, and the pension sector in consultation with the government and sector regulators. According to the RBI statement, the launch of the Antardrishti dashboard marks another significant step towards deepening financial inclusion in India.

The Indian government plans to implement an Aadhaar-based payment system (ABPS) for 90% of active workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) by the end of June. The Ministry of Rural Development aims to make ABPS mandatory for wage settlements starting July 1. Currently, around 74.9% of active workers are eligible for the payment system. The government has instructed state governments to organize camps and maintain contact with beneficiaries to ensure complete coverage under ABPS. However, workers without an Aadhaar number should not be denied work. The government aims to register approximately 1,491,848 workers daily to meet the June 30 deadline. Some states are falling short of the targets, and they are labelled as “lagging” in terms of daily data updates on the government dashboard. Several states have a low percentage of eligible workers, including Meghalaya, Nagaland, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Gujarat. However, the government remains optimistic that 88-90% of active MGNREGS workers will be covered by the end of the month. According to government data, out of the total 14.28 crore active beneficiaries, Aadhaar has been linked to 13.75 crore individuals, and 12.17 crore of these have been authenticated, making them eligible for ABPS. In May, approximately 88% of wage payments were made through ABPS. The MGNREGS is a government initiative that provides a minimum of 100 days of guaranteed wage employment per financial year to rural households for unskilled manual work, aiming to improve their livelihood security.